Nicca

The Nicca Camera Co. Ltd. started as the optical workshop Kōgaku Seiki-sha (光学精機社, meaning Optics and Precision Co.) in 1940, founded by former employees of Seiki Kōgaku (the predecessor of Canon). It was based in Tokyo, Honjo.[1] Its first camera, the Nippon, a close copy of the Leica rangefinder camera, was produced in 1942.

In 1948, the company changed its name to the Nippon Camera Works, and a year later, to the Nicca Camera Works. It continued to build Leica-type rangefinder cameras, adding such features as flash synchronization, lever wind, a hinged film back, and projected viewfinder framing. Nicca also made cameras for Sears under the Tower name.

In 1958, the company was acquired by Yashica, which manufactured and re-labeled the Nicca-33 and III-L as the Yashica YE and YF respectively.

Notes

↑ Its address in 1943 was Tōkyō-to Honjo-ku Higashi-Ryōgoku 3–10 (東京都本所区東両国3–10). Source: "Kokusan shashinki no genjōchōsa" ("Inquiry into Japanese cameras"), listing the Japanese camera production as of April 1943.